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"Take a moment to reflect on the lives that were taken from us by a senseless act."

"I refuse to accept this as normal."

"I'm not sure of the solution, but we must have a serious conversation."

Here we go again. A mass shooting is followed by our elected leaders posting pictures of the victims on Facebook and telling us to reflect, pray and have a serious conversation.

If we are to have another serious conversation, I’d like to suggest a few guidelines to our elected representatives. Let’s not talk about background checks or better mental health care or lifting the ban on gun violence research. Let’s not debate whether it was domestic terrorism or international terrorism or workplace violence. And let’s not blame the National Rifle Association.

Citing how many sales were stopped by background checks ignores the fact that 75 percent of guns used in mass shootings were obtained legally.

Let’s face reality and accept that the NRA is the front for the weapons manufacturers who can stay in the background selling guns while the NRA is out there doing what lobbyists are paid to do.

Before focusing on improved mental health care as a solution, consider the research of Dr. Jeffrey Swanson, professor of psychiatry at Duke University School of Medicine. “If you were to back out all the risk associated with mental illness that's contributing to the 300,000 people killed by gunshot wounds in the last ten years, you could probably reduce deaths by about 100,000 people. 95 percent of the reduction would be from suicide. Only 5 percent would be from reducing homicide. Mental illness is a strong risk factor for suicide. It's not a strong risk factor for homicide.”

So let’s have the conversation soon and then let’s act. It is up to our elected leaders to see the problem as the conservative Australian Prime Minister John Howard saw it in 1996 after a mass shooting in his country. “The fundamental problem was the ready availability of high-powered weapons, which enabled people to convert their murderous impulses into mass killing.” That year Australia enacted one of the largest gun reforms in recent history – and gun deaths plummeted. In the following decade the firearm homicide rate fell by 59 percent and the firearm suicide rate fell by 65 percent – without increases in other types of deaths. And, yes, Australians still hunt, target shoot and kill animal predators on their farms with guns and rifles they legally own. But they cannot own a Bushmaster AR-15 assault-type weapon like the one used to murder 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School on Dec. 14, 2012.

Let’s acknowledge there are millions of legally bought guns in American homes that should never have been sold, and it will take take decades before the United States will see gun violence at a level comparable to that of countries that regulate what guns private citizens may own.

To our elected leaders: Yes, you may very well be putting your re-election on the line if you introduce or support bills that will establish parameters to the Second Amendment. The solution is in your hands. We the people have given you the power to enact laws to stem gun violence in this country. We expect you to use it.

Joanne Cabry is the chair of the Progressive Democrats of Sussex County.